Railroad Ballast in South Dakota
Railroad Ballast helps South Dakota farm pads and approaches stay open to drainage beneath heavily loaded ground.
- Size: Roughly 1 inch to 2.5 inches
- Grading: Graded to interlock under load while draining freely
- Type: Large angular crushed stone
From $434 for 1 ton, delivery included (larger loads cost significantly less per ton)
Free delivery included
Free delivery anywhere in South Dakota
Pick a delivery date
Weekday delivery, earliest Nov 3
“Built a farm road through a low wet spot on a client's property outside McLaughlin where regular gravel just kept disappearing into the muck every spring. Eight tons of railroad ballast from South Dakota Rock Supply went down first as a base layer since it drains so much faster than crushed stone in standing water. Two wet springs later the road hasn't sunk and equipment crosses it without getting stuck.”
Judy C. · Verified Buyer
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Everything You Need to Know About Railroad Ballast
Size and Grading
- Size
- Roughly 1 inch to 2.5 inches
- Grading
- Graded to interlock under load while draining freely
- Type
- Large angular crushed stone
A farm building pad or ranch approach can be weakened when spring water remains under the traveled area. Railroad Ballast keeps a rough, angular character suited to the open foundation portion of that work. The stone interlocks under load and lets water pass through, making it useful for rail track and heavy-duty support areas.
East River till and West River gumbo can both retain moisture, while deep frost affects ground movement across South Dakota. Set Railroad Ballast below the final travel surface where drainage and load support are needed, rather than using it as the finish. If the job needs a material that compacts into a tighter layer, select a different base material for that layer. This approach suits farm building pads and cabin roads around the Black Hills.
Quickly Calculate How Much You Need
Material: Railroad Ballast
How to Measure
Measure the length and width of your project area in feet
Decide on depth in inches (2" for landscaping, 4" for driveways)
Enter the values above and we'll calculate the tonnage you need
Need help figuring out the right amount? We can help!
Call or text us at (605) 525-9259 and we'll help you calculate the right quantity for your project.
Not sure how much you need? The Stone Calculator has depth guides, coverage charts and worked examples for this material.
Common Uses
Rail Track Bed
Keeps track ties set while water drains through the structure.
Heavy Equipment Pads
Provides a stable base for industrial loads, containers, and cranes.
Industrial Access Roads
Handles repeated use by trucks and heavy machinery.
Large-Scale Drainage
Angular stone lets water flow through beneath weight.
Why Choose Railroad Ballast
High Load Capacity
Built to handle extreme weight.
Fast Drainage
Open spaces between angular pieces release water quickly.
Interlocks Tightly
Helps limit shifting when traffic passes over it.
Long Lasting
Hard stone resists wear over time.
Customer Reviews
No more standing water at the bunks
Four tons of railroad ballast for the feeding area that turns to soup every winter outside Eagle Butte. Drains fast even packed down under the cattle. No more standing water by the bunks.
Stanley R. · Eagle Butte, SD · Verified Buyer
4H parking stays dry now
Our 4H club needed a drier spot for the livestock trailers to park during the county show near Blunt after a couple of muddy years ruined everyone's boots. Six tons of railroad ballast went down over the worst section of the parking area and it has drained every storm since without a single truck getting stuck. South Dakota Rock Supply worked with our tight nonprofit budget better than the other quote we got.
Rebecca H. · Blunt, SD · Verified Buyer
Low water crossing holds up now
Took on a project for a rancher outside Newell needing a low water crossing rebuilt where cattle cross a seasonal creek to summer pasture, since the old crossing turned into a bog every rain upstream. We used eighteen tons of railroad ballast as the base, since it drains faster than regular stone and cattle would not stand in a puddle waiting to cross. The tri axle driver worked down the two track trail slow, dumping the load in three spots along the ford so we could spread it with the tractor blade. A year later, including a wet spring that flooded half the pasture, the crossing holds firm and cattle move across without hesitating like before.
Andre W. · Newell, SD · Verified Buyer
Farm road stays above the muck now
Built a farm road through a low wet spot on a client's property outside McLaughlin where regular gravel just kept disappearing into the muck every spring. Eight tons of railroad ballast from South Dakota Rock Supply went down first as a base layer since it drains so much faster than crushed stone in standing water. Two wet springs later the road hasn't sunk and equipment crosses it without getting stuck.
Judy C. · McLaughlin, SD · Verified Buyer
Railroad Ballast has 4 verified customer reviews with an average rating of 5 out of 5.
Railroad Ballast delivery across South Dakota
- Sioux Falls
- Rapid City
- Aberdeen
- Brookings
- Watertown
- Yankton
- Mitchell
- Huron
- Box Elder
- Spearfish
- Pierre
- Vermillion
